Transcript
BROWN BEU: The people of Temotu Province who have given consent are ready for this. The people who are against this prospecting are all working class, and they're all in town. They should be assisting in some form, but they are not. Let me tell you that these people as far as we in Temotu are concerned, we're not listening to them, full stop.
JOHNNY BLADES: There are some claims that the full (landowner) consent wasn't gained, that the process...
BB: Yeah, the people who are complaining are not here in Lata. They're all in Honiara, and they're only complaining because they have other interests. .
JB: The provincial government supports Pacific Bauxite's activities?
BB: For the purposes of development in Temotu province, what else do you expect we can do? And we trust this company.
JB: You've obviously looked into what the environmental or social impacts might be from it?
BB: Yes, we do.
JB: It's worth it, in your view?
BB: Well, it's still the prospecting stage. So until the prospecting lasts three years... then we'll be able to ascertain as to whether there is enough minerals in the soil for mining later on. And that of course depends on the people. Once the reports have come out and the people basically 'no we don't want mining' then that's it, it's finished. But at least mate, let me tell you this: unlike other investors who are invested in Temotu Province, the AU Mining (50 percent-owned by Pacific Bauxite) will shortly after this be able to provide medical facilities that we will never - I don't know, centuries to come - never have. Isn't that something that's worth looking forward to?
JB: I understand that some of the miners from the company have arrived in Lata.
BB: Yeah, three of them, four maybe, yes, including their lawyer.
JB: Is it correct that they're being protected by police?
BB: Yes they definitely are protected by the police. The police are aware of this and their protection is.. I say 100%. There is a segment of the community who since have wanted to stage a peaceful protest against the government, the police in Lata are not accepting. They won't consent to this.
JB: They're just taking precaution, you're saying, for the mining people?
BB: Yes, not only the mining people, but everyone else in the community. It's not worth it, that's basically the bottom line.
